Adaptation challenges and opportunities for the European energy system –

key findings from a new EEA report

Hans-Martin Füssel | NRC meeting for adaptation | EEA, Copenhagen, 12 June 2019

Key information source: forthcoming EEA Report

• Publication on 18 June 2019: eea.europa.eu/publications/adaptation-in-energy-system

• Launch at EUSEW Policy Conference: Session INT40: Preparing the European energy system for the impacts of climate change (with web streaming)

• First European-level overview of information ono climate impacts on the energy system,o the rapidly evolving policy framework,o activities of the most relevant stakeholders,o opportunities for further action

• Aims to help that the massive investments made in the clean energy transition are viable also in a changing climate

1. Climate change: Changes in average climate as well as climate and weather extremes

2. Energy system change: Rapid growth of renewable energy sources, most of which are climate-sensitive

3. Societal change: Increasing dependence of modern economies and societies on a reliable energy supply

Why is climate change adaptation in the energy system becoming increasingly important?

A climate-resilient energy system needs to address weather and climate events at many time scales

Climatic change impact chains for the energy system

Key climate drivers

• Temperature increase

• Water availability

• Extreme climate-related events

• Coastal and marine hazards

Overview of climate change impacts on the energy system

• All components of the energy system are vulnerable to climate change and/or extreme weather events

• Impacts differ across regions and energy sector components

• Southern European regions are most adversely affected

Adaptation is linked to other sustainability concerns

• Mitigation and adaptation: There can be both synergies and trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation

• Energy-water-land nexus: Different low-carbon energy technologies have different needs for water and land

• Integrated policy approach: Integrated consideration of different policy goals allows to maximize synergies and to limit adverse side effects

Adaptation occurs in a rapidly decarbonizing energy system

LTS scenarios agree in:

• Rapid growth in the share of

renewable energy sources

• Electrification of most energy uses

• Expansion of electricity grids and

energy storage

• Increasing energy efficiency

LTS scenarios differ in:

• Role of hydrogen and ‚Power-to-X‘

• Role of CCS and bioenergy

Different clean energy scenarios are associated

with different adaptation challenges

• EU adaptation strategy (recently evaluated)

• Mandatory climate proofing of major EU-funded infrastructure

• European standardization organisations revise infrastructure standards

• EU Regulation on the governance of the Energy Union and climate action (including NECPs and European/national long-term strategies)

• Regulation on risk preparedness in the electricity sector

• Improving the knowledge base for adaptation (including Copernicus Climate Change Service)

EU policies increasingly support enhancing climate resilience in the energy system

Governments play an important role in enhancing resilience

Source: IEA

Examples for national actions

• (Multi-)sectoral climate change risk assessments

• Sectoral adaptation plans

• Reporting obligations for infrastructure providers

• Guidance material for climate change risk assessments and resilience planning

• Weather and climate services

Many governments in Europe are already facilitating adaptation in the energy system

Knowledge about national adaptation actions is limited

• Leftmost columns: Almost all countries have conducted climate change risk assessments for the energy sector

• Central columns: Most, but not all, national adaptation strategies and action plans address the energy sector

• Rightmost columns: The Country fiches (for EU Member States) and the UNFCCC National Communications provide at best limited evidence of the implementation of adaptation actions in the energy sector

Adaptation case studies by European energy companies

Further information is available on Climate-ADAPT: climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/knowledge/tools/case-studies-climate-adapt

Conclusions and outlook (1)

1. There is an increasing need for climate change adaptation and strengthening climate resilience in the European energy system

2. There are synergies and trade-offs between climate change adaptation, mitigation and other sustainability concerns

3. Many policymakers and stakeholders are already addressing adaptation needs in the energy system, but there is scope for further action

4. The development of the Energy Union and the EU long-term strategy provide important opportunities for mainstreaming adaptation concerns in the planning and implementation of a decarbonised energy system

Conclusions and outlook (2)

5. All countries should address climate change impacts on the energy system in the development or update of their

– national energy and climate plans until 2030,

– long-term decarbonisation strategies until 2050,

– national adaptation strategies and action plans

6. Governments can further facilitate adaptation by market actors through:

– appropriate regulation of energy markets,

– 'soft' measures that focus on information provision and exchange,

– potentially reporting requirements for critical infrastructure providers

7. Market actors in the energy sector should see assessing and strengthening climate resilience as part of their core business

Background slides

Challenges for action• Climate change impacts add to existing policy and market uncertainties

• Adaptation could be seen as complicating the clean energy transition

Opportunities for action• Massive investment in clean energy technologies allows to address

adaptation needs from the outset when it is most efficient

• Most energy stakeholders have experience in managing climate variability

• EU Energy Union facilitates mainstreaming of adaptation considerations in the clean energy transition

There are challenges and opportunities for acting on adaptation in the energy system

Examples for synergies and trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation in the energy system

• International governmental organisations: World Bank, IEA, OECD, IRENA, WMO/GFCS, ...

• International sector associations: World Energy Council, WBCSD, International Hydropower Association, ...

Many international organisations are facilitating climate change adaptation in the energy system